In this episode:

• Where to start when you suspect a learning disability
• The difference between school evaluations and private evaluations
• What to say to your child's teacher (and what to ask for)
• Your legal rights as a parent and how to use them
• What an IEP and 504 plan actually are and how to get one
• How to advocate for your kid without feeling like you're fighting the system

In this episode:

• Why so many parents delay action (and why that's completely normal)
• Signs worth paying attention to from preschool through middle school
• The difference between "developing on their own timeline" and a true learning disability

If you're the parent lying awake wondering whether you should say something, you're not overreacting. Share this with someone who needs to hear that. 

In this episode:

What growth vs. fixed mindset really means (and what it doesn't)
The 1998 study that changed how we think about praise
Why your view of failure matters more than your view of intelligence
How fixed mindset shows up at every age
Practical scripts and reframes you can use tonight
Special considerations for neurodivergent kids

The Girl who Never Made Mistakes
https://amzn.to/3Pht3kX

Your Fantastic Elastic Brain
https://amzn.to/3Pcwqd2

Rosie Revere, Engineer
https://amzn.to/4dsWVov

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
https://amzn.to/4bvG0PD

If traditional parenting advice isn't landing with your kid, you're not alone — and you're not doing it wrong. In this episode, Courtney and Scott break down five practical, science-backed strategies for parenting a child with ADHD. These aren't about fixing your child — they're about working with how their brain is wired. From rethinking how you give instructions to reframing what "good behavior" actually looks like, these small shifts can make a real difference. Pick one, try it this week,.

phases.fm

In the very first episode of Phases, Dr. Courtney Tolinski, a licensed clinical and educational psychologist with over 15 years working with families, sits down with her husband Scott to share their top 10 parenting tips for 2026. Grounded in child development, emotional regulation, and attachment theory, these tips cover how we communicate with our kids, how we manage our own stress as parents, and how to build connection through everyday moments. Courtney and Scott get real about what this looks like in their own home, from kitchen dance parties and 3D printer adventures to a Disney trip cancelled by a hurricane. If you're looking for judgment-free, psychology-backed parenting advice that actually feels doable, start here. Pick one tip that hits home and build from there.

phases.fm

We're Courtney and Scott — a married couple diving into the messy, beautiful, ever-changing world of raising kids and growing up alongside them.

Courtney brings her PhD in educational psychology. Scott brings… questions (and experience co-hosting Syntax.fm). Together, we're exploring family psychology, human development, and parenting — judgment-free.

What to Expect

• Real conversations about child development stages, behavior, emotions, and the stuff no one warns you about
• Research-backed insights made actually useful — no textbook lectures
• Relationship & identity — how parenting changes you, your marriage, and your sense of self
• Listener questions — bring your chaos, we'll bring the context
• Zero judgment — just honest talk from two parents figuring it out in real time

Coming Soon

• 10 Parenting Tips for 2026 — what's actually working right now
• 5 Hacks for ADHD — practical strategies from both sides of the diagnosis
• Self-Care for Parents — why it's not selfish and how to actually do it
• AI and Homework — how to guide kids in using tech as a tool, not a crutch
• The Anatomy of a Meltdown — what's happening in their brain (and yours)
• …and more

phases.fm
https://www.youtube.com/@phasesfm

Subscribe wherever you listen. New episodes dropping soon.